Imran Khan, the founder of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), has recently appointed three focal persons following an agreement with Adiala jail authorities regarding Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for meetings with the incarcerated former prime minister. The document, signed by the former Prime Minister and the superintendent of Adiala Jail, designates PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Khan, Sher Afzal Marwat, and Barrister Umair Niazi as his focal persons.
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According to the agreed SOPs, each focal person will nominate two individuals weekly for meetings with the imprisoned party founder. These meetings are scheduled for Tuesdays and Thursdays, allowing the founder to meet with family members and legal representatives within the confines of the jail premises.
This decision reflects a mutual understanding between both parties, adhering to a court order permitting meetings within the jail premises.
Meetings are to be brief, limited to 30 to 45 minutes, with a maximum of six visitors allowed per session. Furthermore, the agreement discourages individual petitions in court, possibly referring to previous legal actions by PTI concerning meeting arrangements for the incarcerated party founder.
Earlier this month, the Punjab government restricted prisoners, including the PTI founder held since September 26, 2023, from conducting meetings inside the jail due to security concerns. Punjab’s Information Minister Azma Bukhari clarified that these measures were not aimed at obstructing Khan’s meetings but were implemented in response to a credible security threat.
The security concerns escalated following the arrest of three terrorists by the Counter Terrorism Department (CTD), who were found in possession of a map of Adiala Jail, a hand grenade, and improvised explosive devices (IEDs). Investigations revealed the terrorists’ Afghan origins, with ongoing inquiries into their activities.
Earlier, on November 7, 2023, police discovered a suspicious bag containing an explosive device near Adiala Road in Gorakhpur, Rawalpindi, just a kilometer away from Adiala Jail.
